The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-08

Civil-service Association. Among others
present was Mr.. Phil Gapen, who sat through
the service with fortitude. bat with an express
sion that might be indicative OF disapproval on
his Roman countenance Once, when the sue-
gestion was made that IL only the best butter
contained mageots it were advisable to procure
none other. he smiled solemnly. The meeting
was called to order by President Foulke, who
called Mr. Rowland to read the resolutions
adopted by the executive committee. They
we're follows
The benevolent, penal and other public institutions
of Indiana make necessary the hiring Of large body
of employees; number soon to be heavily increased
by additional asyums for the insane These employees
hired upon the principal that ito the victors
belong the spoiis. As consequence. the condition
are robbed and persons in the care aud custody of
the State fed and treated by the States employees
in manner iDhuman to them and disgraceful to the
te- This is done partly to enable these employees
their friends to make money and it partly results
from the inoxperienee and worthlessness OF care
takers appointed solely TO strengthen some ones po
lca fortunes How to revoutonize the civil service
in these institutions and make the getting of places
depend solely upon fitness for the duties to be per-
formed and the holding upon faithfuiness in per-
Torrance is question Of the first Importance. We
therefore urge the people OF the State to bring their
influence to bear to the passage of the bill
framed by this association which embodies tried
and successfu system of securing efficient service and
embraces the fairest and most democratic method of
distributing public employment that has been devised.
We recognize the fact that in Massachusetts, and
ia some large Offices elsewhere civiser, ice reform
has been maintained and advanced by the President;
for this he is entitled to the thanks of the country
But do not believe that reform localities is all
that ought to be expected that the President may
demand.
The national civil-service law is sufficient for it's
purpose. Its purpose and Is well known be to
break down the spoils system In the hands of an
honest executive officer. wherever that law reaches
the spoils system disappears In the hands of its
enemies the law may be and 10 rendered worthless.
In Indiana the admins tration of this law has been
left by President Cleveland in the hands of its de-
en- smile md as n co has beer
dered imperative Confidence that competitors stand
an equal ehsnce has been destroyed The President
has known the facts but he has afforded no relief It
is his duty by the exercise of his power of removal
foI ced in spirit and letter.
1t is not claimed that in the federal service the
head of an Office may not remove an employe for
reasons satisfactory to himself nor should this rover
BE curtailed. But it is the duty of the President
require every official to make his for such
moval written public record, and to promptly dis
miss an official who males removals for party
other improper reasons. The present secret system
of the Civil-service Commission is used a cloak
by dishonest officials. All examination papers, lists
Of egibles and the entire operations under the law
should be open to public inspection. Local civil
service boards should not he made up exclusively of
persons whose tenure of place may be affected by the
head Of the Office concerned.
The Civilserviee Commission not created
an Intoxicating body and its poweressness in this
is shown by its declaration, whenever ar
rives the around to be Investigated that has
power to call witnesses. Yet it has repeatedly fol-
lowed this declaration by holding quasi-court
claimed to be investigation and making report
L thorough investigation had boon had; Without
the call witnesses such method of inves-
tigation be thorough, and it is harmful to the
cause of civilservice reform. The President has
abundant ia the secret service and in special
agents of ascertaning whether his subordinates
performing their duties according to the spirit and
his rules or directions In the whole federal service
over which ho is not Judge but executive officer.
And we deny that he may delay action until private
eitizens have fled and proved charges"
At the conclusion of the reading of the resolu-
tions, Mr.. Rowland stated that he had also been
instructed by the executive committee to read
to the audience the report of the sub-com mittee
on the management of the Insane Hospital. The
report is supplementary to the former report on
the same subject, and brings the account of the
affairs of the institution down from the House
Assembly, to the present time. The committee
reports itself satisfied from investigation that
abuses continue at the asylum as before the
legislative Investigations, and that employees
were obliged to keep them secret. Mr. Burrell,
trustee and secretary of the board, declared
openly that ANYONE who showed the white
this sentiment Doctor Fletcher, DIR. Stewart.
Mr. Roth, who testified before the House
committed. had been discharged or their
Offices abolished. The same spirit
any complaint A of Senator f. NJ How
ard. employed at the hospital, was dismissed for
cause, on complaint of DR.. Browning, and there
after repeated efforts were made to have Brown
ing discharged and young Howard reinstated.
Afterwards Brownine's position was promised to
Senator Howard, but DIR. Fletcher refused to
discharge DR.. Browning DR.. Fletcher was noti-
fed that he must do So "If not. both must go.
DIR. Harrison's pledge is out to DIR. Howard"
AS DIR. Fletcher still refused. DR. Brownng's
Office was abolished In July. 1887, and he
thereby disposed of. The discharge of a number
OF minor employees followed, over the remon-
STRANGE OF DIR. Fletcher, who stated that within
six weeks nine German employees were dis
charged, Notwithstanding they have done their
work to perfection
The trustees not only required the assistance
OF the employees in their personal political serv-
ice. but also used the asylum as a haven of re-
ward for their proteges. Mr.. Burrell kept two
DR. three worthless friends in place all the time.
One OF these was discharged for incompetency
and another for dishonesty. The latter was
forced back by Burrell, but was again discharged
for gross misconduct The asylum school had
bsen abolished entirely. The board demanded
the discharge OF the teachers, because they
talked too much and were dangerous" DR..
Fletcher refused to comply. and the end was
reached by an order abolishing the school.
The same unauthorized system of contracting
fer supplies is in vogue. Coal was bought by one
of the trustees, contracted for in January, when
dear, and delivered in the spring when cheap
A large stock of damaged canned peaches was
rejected bv Mr. Roth. and afterwards accepted
by Mr.. Hall. over Roth's protest. The meat was
so bad that on July l6 1887, DIR. Fletcher wrote
20 the contractor: The meat you are now is
suing is infamous. 1t is so tough that IL is i'm
possible for patients with poor teeth to masti-
cate It. Rather than have any more of such
will do without meat" It was so bad that only
two deliveries were allowed by DIR. Fletcher
during the month. Meat was delivered hot and
moved; IL was delivered by dirty men in dirty
wagons such no butcher would dare to de-
liver in TO bis customers. Pigs tongues were
supplied with parts of the throat and gullst
attached. uncleaned, and showing evidence of
disease in the throat.
John Z. Sullivan is still the favorite furnisher
Of butter One time last spring Sullivnn's bid
WAS lowest, but, when the bills we're audited, it
was discovered that tho figures of his bid had
been altered. raising the price. The performer
OF this kindly Office was not known. Tue butter
an had haf nr Elafchar had adj
urgent protests on June %, July IL and in Sep
TENDER. Mr.. Sullivan also furnished large
number OF rabbits that tainted and
Bmelled badly. during the last spring. In june
the books Of the asylum were ordered under
lock and key, and DR. Fletcher denied access to |
them In July he was given access, but the |
public was ruled out.
The MeConahy horror reviewed chiefly |
~ TO facts brought out in the coronsrs nvestiga-
ton and recently printed in the Journal. In |
the committee says: I'VE also call at
IGNITION TO the fact that the faucets Of the hospi-